WORLD WAR LOOMS America Moves Towards War
Americans Cling to Isolationism Public outraged at profits of banks, arms dealers during WWI Americans become isolationists; FDR backs away from foreign policy 1935 Neutrality Acts try to keep U.S. out of future wars outlaws arms sales, loans to other nations
Break Down of Neutrality Acts 1935 outlawed sale of arms to countries at war 1936 banned sale of arms to countries involved in a civil war 1937 FDR s Quarantine Speech: he wants to get involved in war, but the nation is absolutely opposed
Neutrality Begins to Dissolve 1937, Japan launches new attack on China; FDR sends aid to China FDR wants to isolate aggressor nations to stop war
Moving Cautiously Away from Neutrality 1939, FDR persuades Congress to pass Cashand-Carry provision Argues will help France, Britain defeat Hitler, keep U.S. out of war
Cash and Carry Replaced the Neutrality Acts; allowed the sale of arms as long as customers transported goods with their own ships and paid with immediate cash
The Axis Threat 1940, FDR tries to provide Britain all aid short of war Germany, Japan, Italy sign Tripartite Pact, mutual defense treaty become known as Axis Powers Pact aimed at keeping U.S. out of war by forcing fight on two oceans
The Lend-Lease Plan FDR tells nation if Britain falls, Axis powers free to conquer world U.S. must become arsenal of democracy By late 1940, Britain has no more cash to buy U.S. arms 1941 Lend-Lease Act U.S. to lend or lease supplies for defense
Lend-Lease Act President Roosevelt promised to lend or lease arms to any country whose defense was vital to the United States. (March 1941) Gave U.S. jobs and allowed Britain to keep fighting
Building U.S. Defenses Nazi victories in 1940 lead to increased U.S. defense spending First peacetime draft enacted Selective Training and Service Act: draftees to serve for 1 year in Western Hemisphere only
Peacetime Draft First and only time U.S. has had a draft without being at war 1 million drafted, 16 million registered Men ages 21-36 Ages extended to 18-45 once WWII began
Roosevelt Runs for a Third Term FDR breaks two-term tradition, runs for reelection Republican Wendell Willkie has similar views on war FDR reelected with 55% of votes
Supporting Stalin 1941, Hitler breaks pact with Stalin, invades Soviet Union Roosevelt sends lend-lease supplies to Soviet Union
German Wolf Packs Hitler deploys U-boats to attack supply convoys Wolf packs groups of up to 40 submarines patrol North Atlantic sink supply ships FDR allows navy to attack German U-boats in selfdefense
Shoot On Sight Germans fire on U.S. ship, FDR orders navy to shoot U-boats on sight U-boat attacks lead Senate to repeal ban on arming merchant ships
The Atlantic Charter FDR s proposal to extend the term of draftees passes House by 1 vote FDR, Churchill issue Atlantic Charter joint declaration of war aims Charter is basis of A Declaration of the United Nations or Allies Allies nations that fight Axis powers; 26 nations sign declaration
Japan s Ambitions in the Pacific Hideki Tojo chief of staff of army that invades China, prime minister Japan seizes French bases in Indochina; U.S. cuts off trade Japan needs oil from U.S. or must take Dutch East Indies oil fields
Peace Talks are Questioned 1941, U.S. breaks Japanese codes; learns Japanese planning to attack U.S. Peace talks with Japan last about 1 month December 6, Japanese envoy instructed to reject all U.S. proposals
The Attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 Japanese attack Pearl Harbor 2,403 Americans killed; 1,178 wounded Over 300 aircraft, 21 ships destroyed or damaged
Reaction to Pearl Harbor Congress approves FDR s request for declaration of war against Japan Germany, Italy declare war on U.S. U.S. unprepared to fight in both Atlantic, Pacific Oceans
Yesterday, December 7, 1941 a date which will live in infamy the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Congress officially declares war on Japan on December 8th, 1941. Three days later, Germany and Italy declare war on the United States.